Purpose: Strawberries are widely consumed worldwide, known for their adaptability to various climatic regions and unique organoleptic properties. However, conventional strawberry production relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers, which, while effective in promoting plant growth and yield, contribute to environmental degradation and increase production costs. This study evaluated the effects of inoculating strawberry plants with the bacteria Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus megaterium, and Brevibacillus fluminis, both individually and in consortia, under reduced fertilization regimes. Methods: Key physical, commercial, and chemical parameters of the fruits were measured, including pH, total titratable acidity, and phenolic compound content. Additionally, an exploratory economic analysis was conducted to assess how substituting synthetic fertilizers with bioinputs can reduce agricultural production costs while promoting ecological sustainability. Results: The inoculation, particularly the combination of A. brasilense and B. fluminis, significantly increased the proportion of marketable fruits, as well as fruit weight and diameter, compared to uninoculated plants fertilized at 30% of nitrogen and phosphorus demand. The triple bacterial inoculation further improved fruit quality by increasing pH, reducing total acidity, enhancing the sweetness index, and elevating phenolic compound levels. Predictive economic analysis demonstrated that reducing fertilizer use by up to 70% increased net value and lowered costs without negatively affecting production. Conclusions: These results indicate that bacterial inoculation is a promising strategy for sustainable strawberry cultivation, improving agronomic performance and fruit quality while reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers. The application of this research could lead to the development of effective biofertilizers that mitigate environmental impacts and foster more sustainable agricultural practices.
Silva et al. (Thu,) studied this question.